I am sure many of you are familiar with Ali Edwards’ DECEMBER DAILY ALBUM. Over the last two years I have been inspired as I have seen her create — in advance — an album that will chronicle the busy and oh-so-fun month of December. The idea behind it is by getting the time-consuming part of the project done with ahead of time, it is easy to print out photos and add some journaling and end up with one amazing album. The amazingly talented Ali gives some great information on creating an album of your own HERE and HERE. She also has a list of FAQ that you can read HERE and if you want to see the Flickr pool of gorgeous pages created by others, you can look HERE.
As I thought about my own documentation of Christmas, I realized that while I may feel like I “have it scrapped,” I have never really taken the time to chronicle the entire season. I have never looked closely at each individual day, written about the magic of the time of year, or spend time journaling about how I feel during this amazing holiday time. And so, as I thought about it, I knew that a DECEMBER DAILY album would be an amazing project to take part in.
One problem. I never have time in November or December to do anything like this. And so, I figured, “why not do it now?” And so I did.
It was pretty simple to put together and I LOVE the way it turned out. I am so excited to use it this year!
I started my choosing one main kit to work with. I am a kit scrapper, and for a project of this size I knew I would want to stick to one color scheme. I decided on a great, versatile Christmas kit of Shabby Miss Jenn’s — XMAS MARKET. I love that it was 1) big, 2) contained holiday colors and non-holiday colors, and 3) is “my style” — warm and comfy.
After choosing my main kit, I had my eye on a few other things that I wanted to incorporate.
It only made sense that I would use Ali’s 25 Days of December brushes. They were perfect for making journaling cards!
And I just ADORE the Presslines by Paislee Press and knew they would make perfect accents for my pages!
I created a template for myself for the pages. I wanted a half bracket page shape, so after creating the template I clipped on various papers from the kit. I then printed and cut out.
I wanted the jorunaling cards to be separate so that they could be moved around as needed. I have no idea what will happen each day and which page might work best, so by keeping the journaling (and dates) separate, I have a ton of freedom.
After coloring the journaling cards with colors from the kit, I printed them out (reducing the size so that I could get four on a page). I then rounded the corners to mimic the rounded edges of the bracket pages.
I added a pocket to some of the pages so that if there are things I want to save — programs, invitations, cards, etc. — I have a place to put them.
I created the cover by cutting out the word “December” from Ali’s brushes, and then adding the “this is” part of the title. I also cut out the circle element from her brushes, removed the number, and added the date 2009 using Amber Clegg’s Date Stamps. I added one of the word art pieces from Paislee Press and with a little double sided foam tape, voila, my cover was done.
Here are some more of the inside pages. Note that they are all left blank at this point. I want to be able to add photos, dates, etc. to the pages when the time comes and therfore all the pages are interchangeable. LOVE that!
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When December rolls around, I plan to take photos (of course!) and journal a bit every day. It will be neat to have my Project 365 and December Daily collide. Some days I may use just one photo — other days I may use a lot. I don’t want to limit myself. I will keep a running document with journaling prompts and hopefully can print photos and journaling every couple of days. The idea, of course, is to have finished album at the end of the month and not feel like it kept me from enjoying all that I am trying to capture. We’ll see how I do!
So how about you? Have you ever done a DECEMBER DAILY album? Do you want to? Is there a month other than December that you would love to capture in this way? Do you have time now to put an album together so that when the holiday season is here you are prepared? We’ve love to hear your stories, see your albums, and read your ideas for how to make this project work for you!
P.S. Thank you to everyone who has shared scrapping and gift ideas with us! Be sure to check the comments from the last few days — they are full of great ideas!
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[...] Bracket Book template – Christmas in July Does anyone offer a bracket book template? See the attached link…I love this idea for Christmas in July and would like to see if there is a template available similiar to the one here? thedailydigi.com Blog Archive December Daily Album {Christmas in July} [...]
This is gorgeous. Have two December dailies sitting unfinished in my WIPs box. Just wondering what cardstock you print your digital papers out on? Does it use up much ink?
I love your book. I did one last year–had to put the finishing touches on in Jan but was soo glad I did it. This year I made one in Feb called the wedding details. My oldest is getting married and I am putting all of the planning and fun decisions into this book. Was able to use all of the cute Valentine/Love stuff that was available in Feb. Now when I am busy with wedding details I can quickly slip in the pictures and journaling and remember this fun time!
Love this…would you share the download of the template bracket? or at least the dimensions and how-to’s in PSE?I would be forever greatful!
I have to agree with the first reply! What did you print out your printed pages, cardstock or photo paper? Now I want to get started on one!
You have done a fabulous job! This is so amazing!
I did a December Daily and absolutely *love* the concept!! There are so many events that happen in December (big and small) and it’s hard to get all of those scrapped on a layout or 2 (and give details).
I love your album & ideas! Just one question ~ did you hand cut all of those pages??
*Love* this idea/post! Thanks so much for all the great info~ I’m totally inspired! I attempted a December Daily last year, but, due to time constraints, didn’t finish. I think starting early is a great idea!
Plus, I would like to ask *pretty please* for a bracket template also! *Love* the way your album is turning out! Such fun!
Love it! What a great idea. I am leaving for vacation today, so gives me something to ponder over the next 2 weeks.
I really like the look of your book! Is your template for the bracket-shaped pages available somewhere?
[...] images from Janet @ thedailydigi.com using my 25 Days of December Photo Overlays [...]
Hi Janet,
This is the first time I have visited thedailydigi, love it. I love your December daily book and the various did kits you used. I am inspired to put mine together now, the past two December I wanted to do one and than December rolls around and it never get done. Thanks for inspiring me to start early.
Your book is beautiful! Love the ideas of using Ali’s December Daily cards. I would love to know how to do the bracket template too. Would you share directions with us, please?
Love it!!! Any chance you could share/sell your template? I’m fairly new to digital scrapbooking and not sure how to go about making the template.
Thanks in advance
I never though of pre-made albums. This may be the winning idea for me (I had always a whirlwind of little ideas and no time at all to pursue them…). Right now I’m thinking to make a summer holiday album using this concept (it will be only 14 days, a good test for the big December challenge).
Besides, do you think this would be a good gift for a friend? Say I make one for my best friend who’s heading through France the next month.
Ciao, Ari
Oh my goodness. This is amazing. What a project! Just gorgeous!
What a great idea! I keep seeing Christmas everywhere in blogland, and while I don’t want to start thinking about it yet, maybe I should!
Love the December Daily album (mine from last year is http://storyworthtelling.blogspot.com/search/label/December%20Daily%202008
Great idea to start working on it now. November just seems so busy!
Awesome! My book from ’08 is still in pieces on my craft table. I keep telling myself to finish it, but….
Maybe I’ll just jump ahead and do the ’09 like you! great job.
Love that you guys are thinking ahead! This is one of my favorite projects I do all year…thanks for making me start thinking about it too
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I love that idea and hadn’t heard of it ’til reading this blog post. I think I’ll try that this year.
Another month that would be great is May/June. This month is so busy for us with all the end of school activities/field trips, holidays (Mother/Father’s Day), and not to mention birthdays and our anniversary.
Thanks for the inspiration!
your album turned out so neat! I don’t know why I never thought of putting together the album in the summer. Thanks for the inspiration Janet!
This a wonderful concept… I wonder though, because I’m not a huge fan of the mini-books (just know they wouldn’t fit in my style and lifestyle), that if I I took a composition book and had that for several Decemebers, or if I blogged December like this or if I digiscrapped this idea with the template pre-made to go in an 7×5 shutterfly photobook?
I absolutely LOVE this mini book! I want to scraplift it and was wondering:
(a)did you print on cardstock or matte photo paper?
(b)did you start with the bracket page as white and
then resize it with a mask to like 95% and then
clip the gorgeous red paper to it?
I’d love to see any addt’l pages (I can hardly want to start this GREAT project)!
BIG THANKS – love your site & the DIGI Files!
Leslie
knitterfan1000s@sbcglobal.net